Derelict Ferry Queen of Sidney Catches Fire in Mission, B.C., Prompting Environmental and Safety Concerns
Mission, British Columbia – A fire broke out aboard the derelict ferry Queen of Sidney on the Fraser River near Mission, B.C., sparking emergency response efforts and raising alarm over environmental hazards posed by aging marine vessels left unattended.
The blaze erupted on Friday evening, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky and drawing a swift response from local firefighters and the Canadian Coast Guard. The ferry, which has been decommissioned for decades, was moored at a private dock when the fire began. Emergency responders worked overnight to bring the fire under control and prevent any potential fuel leaks or pollution from entering the river.
There were no reports of injuries, and the vessel was reportedly unoccupied at the time of the fire. However, the incident has reignited public concerns about abandoned and derelict vessels in coastal waters—a growing issue along B.C.’s shoreline.
Originally built in 1960, the Queen of Sidney was the first ferry in the BC Ferries fleet and served routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. After being retired in 2000, the ship changed ownership several times, eventually ending up docked in Mission, where it has remained in a deteriorating state for years.
Local officials and environmental advocates are now calling for stronger policies around the management of decommissioned vessels. “This incident highlights the dangers posed by aging marine infrastructure,” said Jason Locke, spokesperson for Fraser Riverkeeper, a non-profit focused on waterway protection. “Not only are these vessels an eyesore, but they also represent a significant environmental and safety risk if left to rot.”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard are currently investigating the cause of the fire. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether hazardous materials were present on board, but containment booms have been deployed as a precaution to prevent any contamination of the Fraser River.
Mission Mayor Paul Horn expressed frustration over the situation, stating that repeated warnings about the vessel’s condition had gone unheeded. “We’ve been asking for help to deal with this vessel for years,” Horn said. “Now it’s taken a fire to draw the attention it should’ve had long ago.”
The federal Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act (WAHVA), enacted in 2019, was designed to address such issues, but critics say enforcement has been inconsistent, especially in cases involving privately owned vessels.
As fire crews monitor the aftermath and assess structural damage to the Queen of Sidney, questions are growing about what will be done to ensure similar incidents don’t occur elsewhere along Canada’s coasts.
Source : The Canadian Press
